High Altitudes and Dehydration

Altitude sickness or “Acute mountain sickness” is a result of fatigue, dehydration and low oxygen levels. Just being at high altitude causes you to lose far more fluids than at lower elevations, more than a quart a day just from breathing. When you’re dehydrated, exercise makes you tired more quickly; real tiredness, not just being short of breath. Dehydration compounded by the low vapor pressure of oxygen results in changes in the blood chemistry, making it more acidic and harder to absorb what oxygen is available.

The afflicted person begins with classic symptoms of dehydration: Muddled thinking, irritability and fatigue. Additionally malaise, nausea, and headache at the base of the skull, tight shoulder and neck muscles follow if not relieved by descending to lower elevations or rehydrating with an electolyte replacement drink. Pleural or cerebral edema (Fluid accumulation in the lungs or brain) can result as dehydration progresses and the situation becomes life-threatening. Shortly after Vitalyte was developed, we received a letter from a runner who each summer spent his two-week vacation backpacking in the Sierras. Every year, after the first day, he would have a splitting headache and malaise, no appetite, and feeling lousy and nauseous. He figured that this occurred at high altitudes. Then one summer he took some Vitalyte with him. He drank at least a quart every day, and had none of the usual symptoms; no headache, no malaise, no nausea, and he covered longer distances than ever before. That is until he ran out of Vitalyte with a day and a half to go and had to get by with just water. When he finally made it back to his car, he shucked off his backpack; leaned against the car to unlock it, wondering how on earth he was ever going to be able to drive four hours back home. He got out a packet of Vitlayte, sat on the ground and made a quart. After drinking the full quart (“It was gone before I realized it!”), he became aware that his headache was going away and he was hungry. He wolfed down a sandwich, mixed up another quart of Vitalyte, and headed home, feeling normal again.

Mountaineering expeditions have reported that Vitalyte keeps them going even above 20,000 feet, with “no muscle cramps or altitude sickness and less fatigue even with 100-lb packs.” One member of the 1984 American Medical Expedition to Mount Everest had to reconcile himself to the fact that he would never even get to base camp because he usually suffered from altitude sickness between 12,000 and 14,000 feet and once had to be evacuated with cerebral edema. One day he realized that he was helping set up ladders across crevasses 2,000 feet above base camp … without even the slightest symptoms of altitude sickness. He made sure that he drank plenty of Vitalyte and finally backed off at 20,000 feet, the highest he had ever climbed by over 4,000 feet! Others who began to exhibit symptoms of a.m.s. were promptly “dosed” with Vitalyte and all recovered quickly.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Hypertension

In early 1997, some of the patients at the Johns HopkinsUniversity Medical Center‘s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (C.F.S.) studies in Baltimore, reported good results while using Vitalyte Electrolyte Replacement,known then as “Gookinaid E.R.G.”* Karen DeBusk, R.N., the director of the study at Johns Hopkins, requested a supply of Gookinaid™ for use in evaluating its effectiveness in relieving the malaise fatigue and lassitude that characterizes C.F.S. Results were so dramatic that Gookinaid was recommended as a supplement to drug therapy for the syndrome, as well as for other dehydration and electrolyte imbalance conditions, including: other neurological or hormonal induced electrolyte imbalance syndromes, and for patients who have had a portion of their digestive tract removed, limiting the return of fluids and electrolytes to the system.

What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that causes extreme fatigue. This is not the kind of fatigue that will go away after resting. It lasts for longer periods of time and causes hindrance to even daily activities. People who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome find it hard to attempt strenuous activities. They often experience dizziness and may even black out at times.

Low Electrolyte and Fluid Levels
Patients who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome are found to have low electrolyte and fluid levels, accompanied by hypotonicity (low blood pressure). Low electrolyte and fluid levels are the major factors in fatigue. In individuals with C.F.S., the autonomic nervous system is sending “mixed” signals to the endocrine system causing the body to lose more electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium, in urine than normal. This causes greater electrolyte and fluid loss, resulting in lowered blood volume and blood pressure. Therapy with experimental drugs to readjust the hormonal signals to help maintain normal electrolyte levels and reduce diuresis supported by oral fluid and electrolyte replacement has been very effective in helping the C.F.S. individuals resume more normally functional lives. The only electrolyte replacement drink found to be really effective in maintaining electrolyte and fluid levels is VITALYTE™

A synopsis of personal communications and preliminary reports on the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center Chronic Fatigue Syndrome studies-

VITALYTE is effective in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome because it contains the same proportions of potassium and sodium and the same concentration of glucose as blood so that it gets absorbed directly from the stomach into the circulation. It increases blood volume without diluting the blood; this means that there isn’t an excess of water for the kidneys to have to eliminate, and less water is lost in the urine. Solutions with an excess of sodium, help to retain water only in the tissues, not in circulation. Excess sodium has to be excreted, ultimately causing more fluid loss and the loss of your own potassium in keeping up with the sodium losses.

Chronic Hypotension
Among the several causes of chronic hypotension (low blood pressure), dehydration and the resultant low blood volume ranks as one of the most common and most treatable disorders. In most cases, you can increase your blood volume and blood pressure by drinking more fluids during the day especially before meals. However, drinking just water may result in serious losses of electrolytes unless they are replaced by taking supplements.

Drinking plain water , in an empty or nearly empty stomach takes a long time to be absorbed. If you continue drinking water until you feel heavy or bloated, there will be enough hydrostatic pressure in the stomach to force the water into the blood, diluting the blood. Circulation then takes the blood to the kidneys where they remove the excess water and pass it on to the bladder. If you still experience thirst and want to urinate, there are chances that you may lose electrolytes. To avoid this you can have food in the stomach before drinking water; another is to drink diluted vegetable juices, or even diluted fruit juices and sports drinks. Diluting these drinks is recommended because at their usual concentrations, they will pull water from the blood into the stomach to dilute them until they are at the right concentration (isotonic) for absorption. This pulls even more fluid from your circulation, further decreasing blood pressure; this is why you usually feel lethargic after a meal, and may feel more vertigo than usual when you stand up.

Researchers and medical staff at clinics for hypotension, including those for chronic fatigue syndrome and neurological mediated hypotension at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, The Cheney Clinic and the Universal Life Center, have found that the most effective means of replacing circulatory fluid and electrolytes to increase blood volume and relieve hypotension is by drinking one to three quarts of VITALYTE each day. This electrolyte replacement drink contains just the right proportions of electrolytes, especially potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and glucose at the correct concentration to very quickly and effectively increase blood volume to normal … and you won’t keep going to the bathroom to urinate! On the other hand, if you were dehydrated, once your blood volume is up to normal, and you are now sufficiently rehydrated, additional VITALYTE will reduce the concentration of the urine to normal. Drinking a quart of VITALYTE each day will make a great difference for you … but, don’t take my word for it; find out for yourself!

Dehydration: Causes and Remedies

Dehydration occurs when the body loses essential fluids, including salts and minerals. There is a myth associated with dehydration that it is primarily caused by heat. Heat does contribute to dehydration, but it is not the main source. One can get dehydrated even in cool conditions. This is because cold air is dryer than hot air and the dryness is what causes dehydration. So, you can get even more dehydrated in cold weather. By compounding the low temperature and low humidity with altitude you can lose 2 quarts an hour without even realizing that you have. However, there are other factors that commonly can lead to dehydration. They are air conditioning, antihistamines, decongestants, caffeine and alcohol. When dehydration occurs due to these external factors, you will experience symptoms like impaired mental acuity, slower decision making ability, forgetfulness, transposing terms, inefficiency at work, recreational activities, stiff aching muscles and headache. These effects start showing up even before you feel thirsty. Mental processes let you recognize that you are thirsty. A lot of people override their thirst reflex, as they are too busy with their day to day chores. An Ironman Triathlon Champion Scott Tinley said, “You’ve got to keep thinkin’ drinkin’!”

Air conditioning: We have often noticedthat water drips off air conditioners. Have you ever wondered why this happens? When the outside air circulates through an air conditioner and is cooled, moisture is lost and the amount of water vapor in the air decreases. Additionally the cool air alsotakes away the moisture from your lungs as you breathe. We experience this in dry humid areas and hot conditions but not in cooler regions. The relative humidity drops 50-70% as the air is cooled. The same is true of cold winter air; it holds far less moisture than warm air, another reason people catch cold during the winter, it is not just the cold weather. Also, people often fall sick after flight journeys. This happens because you lose a lot of fluids as a result of air conditioning and low air pressure, further causing cold or flu. Try our Natural Lemonade Vitalyte Sticks . These energy sticks are made withessential electrolytes in the proper ratios, Vitalyte’s isotonic formula replenishes lost electrolytes incredibly fast. Vitalyte electrolyte drinkmix is not only advanced hydration, but also a great barrier against oxidative stress brought on by physical activity.

Replenish electrolytes easily

Antihistamines and decongestants: Both work by dehydrating the cells and can have a profound effect on mental acuity. This is why airline pilots are not permitted to use them less than eight hours before flying. Don’t you wish that this requirement applied to surgeons and others in such decision-intensive jobs? This can also affect the performance of athletes, especially ones who depend upon fast reactions like tennis or handball. Have you noticed how many more errors are made in the final innings of a baseball game or the last quarter of a football game? This happens as a result of fatigue caused by dehydration. What is needed is a hydrating drink mix that will replace electrolytes to provide athletes with an edge. One such replacement drink mix is Fruit Punch Vitalyte Sticks. Made with fruit punch flavor, these sticks will provide you with the hydration required to perform your best.

Caffeine is a diuretic causing you to lose fluids via the kidneys, more fluids than you have in that cup of coffee or soft drink. Recent studies indicate that people who drink more caffeine may have built up a tolerance and may not lose as much of what they drink as less frequent users. Another study indicates that these “heavy drinkers” may be chronically dehydrated and, therefore, can’t lose much more fluid. Alcohol is also causes you to lose more fluid than you drink, more than caffeine because it is an anti-antidiuretic. It suppresses the anti-diuretic hormone required to reduce blood pressure by acting on kidneys and blood vessels. Read more. What can be more dangerous is the systemic loss of fluids. Alcohol also pulls water directly from the tissues, especially affecting the stomach, liver and brain and ultimately damaging these organs. Our Electrolyte Replacement products had not been IN the market long before we at VITALYTE™ started getting testimonials about how effective it is in alleviating the effects of hangovers. We at VITALYTE™ believe that health is wealth and working out is not merely a physical activity but a means to restore your life. Keep yourself hydrated by avoiding these factors that contribute to dehydration or, if you can’t avoid them, anticipate the need to stay hydrated by drinking enough VITALYTE. When you know you’re going to be losing fluids, like when you’re taking a trip, going skiing, summiting a 14’er or having one too many on a Saturday night… and remember Scott Tinley’s advice: “You’ve got to keep thinkin’ drinkin’!”

In my flagrant attempt to find the ingredients of tang, I received entirely too much information and made the executive decision to NOTenlighten you all with the boring details. The important point is this: if you don’t know what it is, it has a number on the end of it, if it takes more than 1 minute to list the ingredients…. it’s probably not great for you.

To support this theory, here are just a few of the Tang ingredients: Yellow 5, Yellow 6 (no I’m not kidding), Artificial Color, Natural Flavor, Orange Juice Solids, and Calcium Phosphate (which prevents caking).

Everyone, yourselves a favor and remember that wonderful but slightly altered quote by Mark Twain:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did drink than by the ones you did. So throw out the tang. Sail away from the Kool-Aid. Catch the trade winds while sipping your Vitalyte. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Or in the words of the modern renaissance man/woman: #YOLO… Drink Vitalyte.

Complete Recovery and the LA Marathon

By Milena Glusac

It is 2:30 am and the first of my three alarms that I set goes blaring off. I want to make sure I am up in time. Then my official “wake up” call from the front desk comes in. Media credentials, check. Hat, check. Strong, strong coffee, check. My call time to be in position for the five live hours of air time is 4:15 am. I still have to take a cab to the shuttle stop, then it is a 25 minute bus ride from the Santa Monica Civic Center to the starting line at Dodger Stadium.

Yes welcome to the LA Marathon and I will be live on course to bring all the action live to over 200,000 listeners. I will be reporting on the women’s elite race. Lending my personal professional experience as a professional distance runner and filling the listener in on all that is transpiring during the 26.2 miles.

I know what the professionals will go through. How they will feel physically.
What they will endure mentally.
How they will cope emotionally.

The scene at the start line at Dodger Stadium is nothing less than exuberayting. Tens of thousands of runners scurrying around in disposable ponchos (there is a chance of rain) all vying for position in line for the port-o-potties. The wheelchair athletes are preparing their aerodynamic race chairs for competition. The line for bagels and bananas is getting longer as everyone is reaching for some last minute carbo fuel. As I get in the lead vehicle from which I will give live updates over the airwaves of KLAC AM570 Fox Sports LA, I know one commonality all these athletes will experience at the end of this 26.2. All encompassing muscle soreness. Soreness that runs so deep that the smallest step down one stair will seem monumental. Yes the hotel lobby at the Fairmont will be scattered with hundreds of athletes just too sore to walk the hundred feet to the elevators. And towards the end of this Sunday day, those athletes that have managed to make it up to their room and shower and return downstairs in an attempt to head out and get something to eat and perhaps a few Heineken’s to help ease the pain, will be reaching for that closest bottle of anti-inflammatories. It is no doubt that a marathon will stretch you physically to your limit.

It was a perfect day for running. No wind, clear skies and 60 degrees. The women’s race was spectacular with the young 20 year Ethiopian, Fatuma Sado, taking the tape in a brilliant 2:25:39. I finish my report live in-studio after being on course for two and a half hours. After wrapping up our post-broadcast checklist, I head upstairs to take a nap. It’s 11:00 am and my sense of time is totally skewed by the lack of sleep. After a couple hours of great sleep I head my way downstairs to asses “the damage.” Yep just as I thought. Hundreds of people limping around trying to get into an ice bath as soon as possible. Nothing highlights the need for recovery more than the aftermath visuals of a marathon. This is the exact application that Vitalyte Complete Recovery was created for. The perfect blend of amino acids to repair muscles, glucosamine to sooth joint pain and of course the amazing anti-oxidant powers of S.O.D (short for superoxidedismutase). Oh my, I want to broadcast this over the air waves for all the runners to hear so that instead of hobbling around helpless for the next week or two, they can be back to their active selves sooner than later. Yep recovery is key. It helps you reap greater benefit from the hard work you put in. Plus, the better you feel, the more likely you are going to enjoy what you are doing. After all, isn’t that the reason you started running in the first place…because it made you feel good? Well Vitalyte wants to help you enjoy your activities by getting you back out there faster by brining you the ultimate in sports nutrition. So next time you are hobbling around after a 13.1 or 26.2 or even after a 2:30 am call time, don’t forget the Complete Recovery along with those anti-inflammatories.